Undergraduate Academic Accelerator Pathway (2-Term) - Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

at Shorelight Group - University of South Carolina USA

As a music major with a concentration in music performance, you can choose from nine performance areas: brass, conducting, guitar, jazz, keyboard, percussion, strings, voice and woodwinds.

Every performance area is designed to maximize your potential, enhancing the technical skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a professional musician. While some instruction happens in the classroom, other skills are developed by performing in symphonies, operas, quartets, bands and ensembles.

As a religious studies major, you will explore the many roles religion has played and continues to play both in society and in individual people's lives. Whether it is Zen monks, ancient Christian martyrs, Muslim and Jewish women, Hindu saints or Chinese philosophers, our courses introduce you to people and phenomena from all over the world. Learning about religion provides an opportunity to explore different cultures and develop a more global perspective.

Religious studies courses help to develop your critical-thinking abilities, your analytical reading and writing skills and your capacity for interpretation and comparison — abilities that are essential in every field of study. Through Maymester programs and study abroad opportunities, students have been able to travel to India, China, Japan, Greece, Turkey and elsewhere.

Some graduates also go on to receive their Master of Divinity and Doctor of Divinity in theology or pastoral ministry, but there is great need for those who understand the complex meanings of religion in global contexts across many fields.

As a geography major, you will take courses in computer cartography, GIS and air photo interpretation/remote sensing. You will also have ample opportunities to study the Earth’s physical features and processes and how this physical environment is modified by human activities. Students may choose to take courses that include the real-world collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of geographic data to prepare you for careers in geography.

Geography undergraduate students may choose one of four tracks to focus on: physical/environmental geography, human/economic geography, geographic information science and general geography.

Are you interested in learning about some of the most pressing social issues of the day, such as immigration, discrimination, economic and social inequality, demographic change, race and ethnic relations, and health and well-being? If so, our sociology program may be right for you. You can pursue a B.A. or B.S. degree in sociology or continue your learning by pursuing the accelerated bachelor's/graduate study plan, in which you receive a master's degree in sociology. The department offers graduate degrees at the master's and doctoral levels.

As a sociology major, you will explore complex issues of power, inequality, identity and conflict across a variety of different social groups and social institutions, such as schools, families and law enforcement. You will also learn to question common wisdoms, raise important questions, examine arguments, synthesize information, analyze data, make conclusions and present arguments supported by empirical research and sociological theory, both orally and in writing.

As part of your learning, you will be able to take advantage of outstanding facilities that include the Laboratory for Sociological Research, one of the largest facilities of its type in the world, and a statistics laboratory. You can also develop your own research project or collaborate with faculty members on a project and participate in department events, including guest speaker presentations and workshops.

The environmental sciences major was launched in fall 2009 as part of the environment and sustainability program. It is designed to give students a strong scientific background while allowing them the flexibility to choose courses that address their specific interests.

The following courses fulfill some of the requirements for a bachelor of science with a major in environmental science:

• Environmental Issues Seminar
• Ecology and Evolution (and laboratory)
• Surface and Near Surface Processes
• Weather and Climate
• Introduction to Environmental Engineering
• Concepts of Environmental Health Science

As a geological sciences major, laboratory experience and field-based activities will enhance the vibrant and friendly academic environment. You will focus on the study of the Earth's dynamics and history, as well as its composition and the chemical, physical and biological changes that it undergoes. You can also choose to pursue a concentration in environmental geosciences.

The department offers a broad range of specialties within geosciences such as sedimentology, stratigraphy and basin evolution; tectonics and structural geology; environmental geology and hydrogeology; igneous and metamorphic petrology; geophysics and seismology; oceanography, coastal and estuarine processes; paleoecology; and paleoclimatology.

You will also have the unique opportunity to complete a four-week field course in Colorado to get valuable hands-on experience. This opportunity synergizes your education in geology to understanding the Earth's formation in an observational setting.

Aerospace engineering graduate degrees include the Master of Engineering (M.E.), which is perceived to be more practically oriented, and the Master of Science (M.S.), which is considered more scholarly or fundamental and includes a thesis.

Programs of study for both the M.S. and M.E. in Aerospace Engineering include coursework in five core areas:

• Aeroelasticity
• Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics
• Aerospace Structures
• Composite Materials
• Finite Element Analysis

Additional electives allow students to concentrate their studies in the mechanics, materials, and flight aspects of aerospace engineering.

As a public relations major, you will develop strong writing and account management skills through interactive classes and extensive writing assignments. You'll learn how to create campaigns, write press releases and manage events as you develop your public relations acumen. You will work collaboratively with your classmates and be encouraged to participate activities like The Carolina Agency, our student-run advertising and public relations agency. You also have the opportunity to earn academic credit by participating in supervised internships. And as a senior in your capstone experience, you will create a comprehensive public relations campaign for an actual client. These real-life experiences will help prepare you for entry-level positions upon graduation.

By building expertise in solid mechanics, materials processes, smart materials, manufacturing automation, concurrent engineering/design, sustainable design or thermofluid/energy sciences, students stand prepared to join the mechanical engineering and manufacturing industries in South Carolina and beyond.

As a mechanical engineering major, you will have the opportunity to work with a professor in research on some of today’s most notable engineering challenges. You will develop skills that will give you the ability to solve many of today’s world problems. Mechanical engineering majors will choose a concentration from design and manufacturing, engineering materials, mechanics of solids, thermal and fluid systems, and nuclear engineering.

Visual communicators tell stories. With a major in visual communications, you can learn to tell stories through photography, video, illustration, print publications or electronic design. Our core courses teach you the basics, and as you discover your talents, you choose the electives and out-of-classroom experiences that match your interests.

As a visual communications major, you will use the latest technology in a series of courses that emphasize multimedia production and writing. Later, you can apply your knowledge in an internship with an ad agency, public relations firm, newspaper or magazine, hone your skills and gain valuable hands-on experience in your visual communications specialty. As a senior, you will complete a capstone experience in which you will prepare a multimedia portfolio that will allow you to shine in a competitive job market.